Cole Cooper, while riding his motorcycle, struck a trailer that had been left on the side of the road. Cole sued the trailer owner, Rick's Blacktop & Paving Company, who turned the case over to Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company who provided both commercial general liability coverage and business auto coverage for Rick's. Grinnell refused to provide coverage under either policy.

Rick's challenged the decision and when he didn't like the first ruling appealed it to a higher court.

Click here to see how the courts ruled.

The ISO commercial auto policy is unique in how coverage is scheduled. Symbols on the declaration are used to indicate if coverage is scheduled or blanketed. When only scheduled autos are covered, a symbol 7 is shown and only those vehicles listed on the schedule are covered. However, there are exceptions.

Click here to read the PF&M analysis of the ISO Business Auto Policy Section I - Covered Autos. Pay particular attention to item C.

Rick's was a paving contractor. The exposure of a paving contractor is very unique and can be difficult to place due to the need to transport hot asphalt from a portable asphalt plant. There are also numerous concerns because of workers exposure to public drivers and the public being exposed to the activities of the contractor. While this is not an easy risk to write, the premiums available can make it worth the effort. First, it is important to understand the exposure and to ask the right questions

Click here to review the Paving Contractors Narrative in the Producers Commercial Lines Risk Evaluation System.

The basis of all coverage on a business auto policy is the declarations and the symbols being used. Providing a digestible snippet of information to your clients may help them understand their coverage more and may generate some positive discussions regarding the coverage they have or thought they had but don't.

Click here for two e-marketing articles that you could include in a newsletter, put in a blog or add to your webpage that provide a simple explanation of the auto symbols.